Denderleeuw (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The tragic house fire which occurred in Denderleeuw claimed the life of a one-year-old girl after she sustained fatal injuries during the incident.
A 1-year-old Denderleeuw girl died from the critical burns she received when her home caught fire on a Sunday last weekend. The bedroom fire that began on Sunday afternoon at Steenweg destroyed a bedroom and resulted in severe burn injuries for the 3-year-old boy. He stays in the hospital receiving medical treatment, and his condition has improved. A couple and their five children survived the tragic incident that left two of their children seriously hurt because three others stayed unharmed. The father received hospital care for medical treatment as well.
“The youngest girl (1) died today from her injuries,”
Authorities confirmed.
When a fire originated in the bedroom, it rapidly spread throughout the house until emergency responders reached the site. A fire expert investigated the cause of the fire before determining that the disaster had occurred by accident. Emergency housing provided by the municipality allows the affected family to stay safe while they navigate through this difficult period. Local authorities, together with the family, work in close collaboration to fulfil their urgent requirements.
“The investigation showed that the fire was accidental,”
Officials stated, offering some clarity on the tragic event.
Fire risks and related statistics
Children face the highest risks of unintentional deaths from home fires, which stand as one of the major global causes. Research in Ontario reveals that operational smoke alarms matter significantly because less than half of all alarms activated during fatal incidents between 2001 and 2006 worked properly.
Bedrooms proved to be the most common location of child fatality fires (62%), which were typically caused by electrical malfunctions or improperly monitored candles. Smoking incidents in Belgium demonstrate the necessity for active smoke alarm systems and practised emergency evacuation strategies. Local authorities emphasised these precautions following this tragedy, stating,
“Operational smoke alarms provide crucial early warnings in case of emergencies.”
